The Power of removing federal Officers at the Pleasure of
the President is to be found the Constitution or it is not.
If it is, What Need was there of an Act or Decision of
Congress to authorize it? But if it is not, could Congress
give so important a Power? What have the United States
been contending for? Liberty. This is the great Object of
their State Governments, and has not the federal Constitution
the same Object in View? If therefore a Doubt
arises respecting the Exercise of any Power, no Construction,
I conceive, should militate with the main Design, or
Object of the Charter. If there is a total Silence in the Constitution,
is it not natural to conclude that an Officer holding
during Pleasure is removable by the same Power which
appointed him, whether vested in a single Person, or a
joint Number? I am sensible, it is said, that a single Person,
being amenable for his Exercise of Power will use the utmost
Circumspection. This may be true, but may not this
Idea be carried too far in Practice? May not some Powers
vested in a single Man give him such Weight and Influence
as to render any Restraint from his feeling himself amenable
of little, or no Effect. If this Power lodged in the
Discretion of a single Person will afford a greater Security
against Corruption because of his Amenability, why should
not the Power of appointing as well as removing Officers
be given to him? In the one Case the gracious Hand may
be held forth, in the other, the threatning Rod; and both
may be used for improper Purposes. In England, "the
King can do no wrong" is a Maxim. His Ministers are
made accountable for him; and how often have corrupt
Ministers and Councellors been brought to the Block for
Follies and Crimes committed by their Royal Masters who
can do no Wrong? And it may also be asked, how often
such Ministers and Councellors have found Means to get
themselves screened from Punishment through the Influence
of their Masters, by procuring Parliamentary Sanctions
to such Crimes and Follies? But in the Removal of
Officers the President has not a Constitutional Council. He
must therefore be solely accountable.